The month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit
EASTER SUNDAY
| Saturday 4 April – Easter Vigil & First Mass of Easter | ||
| St Theresa’s | No Evening Mass | |
| St Columba’s | 8.00p.m. | Easter Vigil Mass Edwin Edwards |
| 11.00p.m. | Kerala Catholic Community Vigil Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Sunday 5 April – EASTER SUNDAY | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30a.m. | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 11.00a.m. | Ademir da Silva |
| 2.00p.m. | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Monday 6 April – Monday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | Special Intention | |
| St Columba’s | 10.30a.m. | Jo Staunton RIP (JM) |
| Tuesday 7 April – Tuesday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | Aurora Soares Alsina | |
| St Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| Wednesday 8 April – Wednesday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | 9.30a.m. | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament |
| 10.15a.m. | Novena Prayers | |
| 10.30a.m. | Mary Tiernan RIP | |
| Thursday 9 April – Thursday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | Dolly, George & Kevin Jones Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | Leo Christiano Soares Alsina | |
| Friday 10 April – Friday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | 10.00a.m. | Tony & Peggy McHugh & Nell Tobin Intentions |
| St Columba’s | The Elwell Family | |
| Saturday 11 April – Saturday of the Easter Octave. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00p.m. | Margaret Collins RIP |
| St Columba’s | 6.30p.m. | Private Intention (A&LP) |
| Sunday 12 April – Second Sunday of Easter | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30a.m. | Pepe Magaway RIP |
| St Columba’s | 11.00a.m. | David Tyrell RIP |
| 2.00p.m. | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 5 April at 11a.m.
ANNIVERSARIES – Patrick Gerard McCullagh, John (Jack) George Cross, Harry Forshaw, Lt. Stewart Harrison, Cecilia Relish, Margaret Mary Collins.
POPES PRAYER INTENTION FOR APRIL – FOR PRIESTS IN CRISIS. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00p.m. – 6.25p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30p.m. – 4.55p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11a.m. service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
PARISH OFFERTORY
(St Theresa) Loose Plate: £181.80; Planned Giving: £131.14; Average weekly SO £718.15.
(St Columba’s) Dona Stations: £120; Candles: £46.25. Thank you for your kind generosity.
EASTER – Fr William, Fr John & Deacon Lawrence would like to wish everyone a Happy and Holy Easter. Thank you to everyone for your participation in the services and to those who helped in any way with the Easter preparations, it is very much appreciated.
EASTER OFFERTORY COLLECTION – This is for the parish. Anyone wishing to give a personal gift to either Fr William or Fr John, please put the donation in an envelope marked personal with their name.
FR WILLIAM – Thursday is Fr William’s day off so please try not to arrange meetings on a Thursday if you would like Fr William to attend.
NEWSLETTER – As well as sending to the editor, please send any items for the newsletter to St Theresa’s office email: st.theresas@btinternet.com for the attention of Fr William. Thank you.
EASTER FLOWERS – ST THERESA’S – Please put your donation in an envelope marked Easter flowers and place in the Offertory basket.
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR –
- The residents of Kingsway, Dickson’s Drive, Brookfield Drive, Provan Way, Saughall Road, Westbourne Road and Cranleigh Crescent.
- The Worship Groups and all who plan services.
KIDS EAT FREE (or for £1) – some may need adult spend – https://moneysavingcentral.co.uk/kids-eat-free
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY 9 APRIL – we are having a “games “session where we can play cards, Scrabble, Dominoes, or any other game you bring along. For those who just want to chat, we can do that as well! This group is for anyone so invite friends or neighbours who would like an afternoon in company over coffee, tea and biscuits from 2-4 pm in the parish hall We ask for £2 per head for expenses. See posters for next month’s exciting speaker!
THANK YOU – Parkinson’s UK Chester Branch wish to thank everyone who so generously supported their Soirée in St Columba’s Church Hall on 27 March. A wonderful array of gifted amateurs voluntarily entertained us and we raised a staggering £1200 – Thank you so much.
CHURCHES TOGETHER SERVICE ON PALM SUNDAY – Our friends at Holy Ascension have asked me to say how pleased they were to see so many parishioners from St Columba’s at the service last Sunday.
GIFT AID ENVELOPES 2026/2027 – The gift aid envelopes for the new tax year are now available for collection and can be found at the back of the church. There are a small number of un-named boxes also available.
If you would like to start using the envelopes, please take a box and contact Kevin Keegan either by email or text message with details of your name and address, the box number and indicate if you are a taxpayer or not. Email: k1bfb@hotmail.com Text: 07790758008
DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2026 – The Pilgrimage Team are very pleased to announce that bookings are now open for our 2026, 75 Anniversary Pilgrimage to Lourdes. By coach 30 July to 7 August and by air 31 July to 6 August. Brochures can be found on the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk along with a link to the new online booking system.
DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING (ST THERESA’S) – On Wednesday 8 April at 11.00a.m. in St Theresa’s Centre. (Please note change of venue). The organisers need to know numbers so if you wish to attend, please notify Ann McCarthy on 07751970388 by Monday 6 April.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – See the rota on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. We need volunteers every Sunday after 11:00a.m. Mass, so if you would like to raise money for your good cause, please put your details on the sheet and let Margaret Curtis know on 01244 318424 or marg.curtis@outlook.com
05 April Easter Sunday, volunteers please
12 April Volunteers please
19 April Volunteers please
| WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONSTo Charlotte Jackson, Received and Confirmed, and Milton Vidotto, Confirmed, both at the Easter Vigil. We also remember Adam Fitzpatrick, Baptised and Confirmed at the Vigil at St Margaret and St Serf, Airdrie. Please keep them in your prayers. |
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” – Roy T Bennett
DIOCESAN MASS FOR MARRIAGE 2026 – Bishop Mark will be celebrating the Mass for Marriage on Saturday 13 June at 12 noon at Saint Columba’s. Mass will be followed by a buffet lunch for invited guests in the Parish Hall. All parishioners celebrating a significant marriage anniversary can apply for an invitation from the Bishop’s Office via their Parish Priest or Parish Administrator by 8 April. Details required are your names, address, telephone number and which anniversary you are celebrating.
CHESTER PARISHES CONFIRMATION – Bishop Mark Davies will celebrate the next Chester Catholic Parishes Sacrament of Confirmation on 11 November ’26 at St. Columba’s Church. This year the preparation program for parishioners from all Chester Catholic Parishes will be led by St. Columba and St. Theresa’s Confirmation preparation team. Anyone currently at high school, or older may prepare to be Confirmed. For youth candidates, to register, parents please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk. Please include your child’s current school year. Adult candidates, please speak to Fr William first and then email the above email address to join the separate adult preparation group. There will be an information meeting about Confirmation preparation in mid-June, details to be announced nearer the time.
SHREWSBURY LOURDES HOSPITALITY – will be holding our first 2026 Hospitality Members Focus Group on Tuesday 21 April, at 7pm. This will be open to any Hospitality members, even if you haven’t attended previous Focus Groups. We will be encouraged to review the commitments made last year to improve our way of working with each other. We are also delighted that Fr Sean Henry, Chaplain to the Hospitality, will join us. This will take place at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1PL. Please confirm your attendance by emailing secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk.
VOCATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY – There will be a Diocesan Marriage & Family Life Ministry (MFL) Retreat with presentations on the Mission of Marriage, a Reflection on the Book of Tobit and Holy Mass at Midday, on 18 April 2026 from 9.30p.m. to 4.00p.m., St. John Vianney Parish Hall, St Wilfrid’s Church, Witton Street Northwich Cheshire, CW9 5NP. Please Register with Monika Golembiewskaon 07549 226794 or email: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS – There are three Red Mission boxes collections during the year: March, July, and November. To have your box emptied, please leave it in the sacristy before the end of March, then pick up your empty, relabelled box from the rear porch.
SUGGESTION BOXES- It was agreed at the parish AGM last year that: “a parishioners’ suggestion box be made available at each church and parishioners encouraged to use them”. These have now been placed in the entrances to each church- apologies for the delay in their installation. There is a pen and paper attached to each which we hope will encourage you to use them. They offer you an easy means of making suggestions for improvements which can help us all as a parish. Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke (co-chairs Pastoral Council)
MISA EN ESPAñOL UNA VEZ AL MES! Fr Patrick from St Clare’s Church will begin celebrating a Monthly Mass in Spanish for our Spanish speaking community in Chester and anyone who wishes to participate”.
First Mass: Saturday 18 April at 4p.m.
Location: St Clare’s, Downsfield Rd, Chester, CH4 8HH.
This Mass will take place once a month and is a beautiful opportunity to come together in faith, prayer, and community in the Spanish Language. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be served after the service. If you want further information, please contact Lina Greig: 07837512544.
! TODOS SON BIENVENIDOS, FAMILIA Y AMIGOS! “Porque donde dos o tres se reunen en mi nombre, alli estoy yo en medio de ellos”
CALLED TO LOVE – A retreat for singles, dating and engaged young adults who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend on 2 – 3 May 2026 at the Christian Heritage Centre, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe BB7 9PZ. This year’s retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. For registration visit: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/called-to-love/
VACANCY – Due to retirement, a vacancy has arisen within the Diocese for a Health & Safety officer. Salary £32,000 – £38,000 dependant on experience. Hours: 25 per week, term time only, please send CV and covering letter to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date 10 April. Further details can be found on the Diocesan Website Latest Vacancies – Diocese
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS – To book the Church, Newman Room, or Iona Chapel, contact Magdalena Bukowska at the Church Office 01244 624019, email stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Mon-Fri 9a.m. to 2.00p.m.
To check Hall availability, visit the Church Hall calendar on the St Columba’s website, then contact Magdalena during office hours or email: columbashallbookings@gmail.com
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER – Sunday 12 April to be compiled by Eileen Irwin, phone: 01244 371660, email: st.theresa@btinternet.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Tuesday 8 April.
Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com